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How to donate an artifact
Do you have an item you would like to offer to the WDM? By far, most of the WDM collection has been donated by people like you. We do not usually accept things on loan.
Contact Us
Contact your nearest WDM by telephone, email,
letter, or in person. Your offer will be forwarded to the Acquisitions
Committee at the WDM Curatorial Centre in Saskatoon. You may also contact
Curatorial Centre staff: Garry Hayes,
ghayes@wdm.ca, Collections Assistant, or Ruth Bitner,
rbitner@wdm.ca, Collections Curator,
(306) 934-1400. Please give us your name and contact information including
your email address.
What to Tell Us
The more information you can tell us about the item, the better. We would
like to know who used it, where it was used, who made it and when, where it
was made and its condition. Do you have a story about it?
Send us Pictures
A current digital photograph of the item will help the Acquisitions
Committee decide if the WDM will accept your offer. Do you have a photograph
of the artifact as it was used - an image of Grampa riding that bicycle or
Mom wearing those go-go boots? If your item is accepted, we would like a
copy of that photo.
What Happens Next
We will check to see if we have similar artifacts in the collection. At its
weekly meeting, the Acquisitions Committee will make a decision based on
significance to the Saskatchewan story, how many similar artifacts are in
the WDM collection, its condition, how it fits into exhibit plans, its
heritage value and whether we have a place to put it. We will get back to
you with the decision as soon as we can, usually within a week or two.
How Old Does it Have to Be?
Remember, an artifact does not have to be “real old” to be of interest to
the WDM. Remember too that we are much more than a pioneer or tractor
museum. We collect artifacts that show the Saskatchewan spirit, represent
who we are, tell a Saskatchewan story, depict an historic event or
illustrate our skills, innovation and know-how.
The WDM Has Lots of Pioneer Stuff...
...typewriters, sewing machines, stoves, cameras, hats, christening gowns,
and wedding dresses. Unless yours has a good story, chances are we will
gratefully decline it. Our storage space is limited too.
The Paperwork
We will send you a donation form which transfers unrestricted ownership to
the WDM. Come in to sign the form or return the signed copy by mail. Your
artifact will be catalogued and photographed; the information will be
entered in our artifact database. Then it will go into storage or be put on
exhibit. Often, artifacts are stored for future exhibits.
To Thank You
We will send you a certificate of appreciation, publish your name in our
monthly newsletter and send you a copy. We will also print your name in our
Annual Report.
You may also be interested in:
View
the WDM Collection on Artefacts Canada
Curatorial
Centre - Conservation
Department
Articles
about artifacts from the WDM Collection
